Applying tool for container closures



A ril 5, 1938. M. SCHWARTZ 2,113,257

APPLYING TOOL FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l I HHEH II ii: H

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SCHWARTZ APPLYING TOOL FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1934 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPLYING TOOL FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Morris Schwartz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Barrel Fitting & Seal Corporation of America,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an applying tool for a container closure and has special reference to a closing tool for forcing a sealed relation between the closure and the container and preventing undetectable access to the container.

This invention contemplates a tool for applying closures to the containers and comprises a cup-shaped member having converging, longitudinally-extending sides, when viewed in cross 10 section; a post journalled in the cup-shaped member in a manner to provide for relative longitudinal movement therebetween, and two sets of cooperating crimping jaws, one of which is slidable laterally and actuated by the converging sides of the cup-shaped member and the other of which is slidable laterally and longitudinally and is actuated by the movement of the first mentioned set of crimping jaws.

The type of plug contemplated herein is similar to that shown in the patent to Henry Schwartz, No. 1,833,042, issued December 22, 1931, whereby a sealing of the hole in the supporting wall of a container takes place in the threads of the connecting means, a rubber, lead or other soft, pliable gasket being forced into the threads of the connecting means when the closure is thread? ed thereon, to effect a fluid-tight seal. This seal is effective so far as concerns the actual opening in the bushing provided in the container. However, it is desirable also to effect a positive seal between the socket of the container wall and the threaded connecting means. Usually, a gasket is inserted between the socket and the connecting means although the present invention provides a seal to augment the action of the above-recited gasket so that a positive seal is had, it being possible for the connecting means to become loosened in the socket to permit leakage through the usual gasket and'it is further 0 possible for the gasket itself to deteriorate.

It is also desirable to prevent access to the bung or plug in order to guard against an unauthorized opening of the barrel or container without such opening being detected. Applicant contemplates the provision preferably of a lithographed tin plate which is scored for removal but may not be removed unless totally destroyed. The material of the hood formed from the lithographed tin plate, preferably of .015.

thickness, is displaced at two portions thereof,

one portion'of the hood being forcibly engaged with the plug and the other portion of the hood preferably being forcibly engaged with the outwardly-formed body portion of the container.

The material of the hood, being crimped at two 1934, Serial No. 740,142

portions, prevents springing of the material outwardly at intermediate points so that a gasket disposed between the hood and the container wall is maintained in a compressed condition. The gasket seats on the barrel stock and not, as is usually the case, merely on the plug or connecting means for the plug.

The hood preferably is formed of a stepped cross section, that is, the hood has a portion of reduced diameter and a skirt portion of an enlarged diameter. The portion of reduced diameter preferably is circular for engaging the circular plug and the skirit portion preferably is polygonal for snugly engaging the polygonal contour of the socket for housing the connecting means. The hood thus prevents a rotation of the plug by reason of the polygonal contour, and rotation, of course, would permit leakage.

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, the reduced portion of the hood preferably engages a a peripheral groove on the extending portion of the plug. In order to contract the neck of the hood to fit in a peripheral groove so that a uniform thickness of the hood is maintained throughout and further to prevent fracturing of the material thereof, a surplus of material is provided between the reduced portion and the enlarged portion which may be displaced into the groove without stretching the material of the hood and. without drawing any material from the thickness between the spaced portions which are crimped.

The tool for applying the closures to the containers has two sets of cooperating jaws, one of which sets of jaws moves the surplus of material of the hood into the peripheral groove of the plug through a lateral movement thereof and forces the material joining the reduced and enlarged portions against a gasket and the face of the envelope for the connecting means through a longitudinal movement thereof. This set of jaws is actuated by the movement of the other set of jaws for crimping the skirt portion against the side Walls of the outwardly-formed body portion of the container. The movements of both sets of jaws are controlled by the relative movement between a substantially cup-shaped member and a post supported therein, the sides of the cup-shaped member converging and thus providing in effect cam surfaces to translate the longitudinal movement into a lateral movement, there being a crimping of the hood inwardly toward a central point at two portions thereof by the action of the two sets of jaws in this direction of movement as Well as a pressing of the gasket by a longitudinal movement of one of the sets of jaws.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a tool for applying closures to containers having outwardly formed portions adjacent holes in the supporting walls thereof, which tool is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, easy to operate and is durable.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a container closure and applying tool therefor embodying the features of this invention, the closure being shown in an initial position on the connecting means of a container and the tool being ready for the application of pressure thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1, showing a changed position of the operative and operated parts;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of Fig. 1, with the closure structure removed therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially in section, of the closure construction as applied to a container; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the plug for use in the closure construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the device of this invention is associated with a barrel head III or supporting wall of a container, preferably formed of sheet material, such as steel. A flanged portion is preferably integrally formed with the head l and projects outwardly from the barrel or container to form a socket II.

The side walls of the socket H are preferably polygonally shaped and receive therein a connecting means l2 comprising an annular ring having a flange l3 at one end thereof extending outwardly therefrom, the peripheral contour of the flange being polygonal and conforming to the polygonal contour of the socket I. Although it is preferable to provide a polygonally shaped socket in which to contain the connecting means, it is to be understood that any non-circular shape may be employed so that the connecting means is prevented from turning in the socket. The connecting means is preferably formed of an internally threaded casting or stamping,

In the particular construction herein shown, the peripheral edge of the flange l3 extending from the annular ring of the connecting means I2 is tapered, or, when viewed in cross section, the opposed edges converge rearwardly or inwardly from the outer surface thereof toward the interior of the container, and the side walls of the socket II are formed to snugly engage the tapered or converging edges to secure the connecting means in a fixed assembled relation with the barrel head. It is preferable to dispose a gasket between the socket and the flange of the connecting means for purposes of sealing the space therebetween.

A plug or bung l4 of substantially cup-shaped form is provided with external threads over the lower portion thereof to threadedly engage the connecting means l2. Interiorly of the cupshaped bung, a tool-engaging formation I is provided, the formation comprising a bar extending preferably diametrically of the plug and serving to reinforce the construction thereof. The plug l4 preferably is cast with a peripheral groove I6 adjacent the externally-threaded portions thereof, the groove providing a shoulder at each edge thereof to retain a sealing means in position, such as a rubber band or other soft flexible or pliable material.

The sealing device thus shown provides an effective seal for preventing leakage of liquid or semi-liquid through the hole of the container by reason particularly of the seal being afforded in the material of the threads themselves.

A portion of the plug or bung l4 extends above the connecting means and likewise above the plane of the outwardly-extending body portion of the container. This outwardly-extending portion is preferably provided with a peripheral groove H, which groove may be continuous or interrupted, as desired.

In order to prevent undetectable access and to seal the closure construction, a hood I8 is provided and comprises an inverted, substantially cup-shaped member of stepped cross section, that is, the upper portion thereof is of reduced diameter compared with the enlarged diameter over the lower or skirt portion thereof. The hood portion of reduced diameter is adapted to envelop the extending portion of the plugl4, and the skirt portion l9 or enlarged portion of the hood is adapted to envelop the outwardly-formed body portion of the container. The skirt portion is connected to the reduced portion of the hood by the laterally-extending portion 20 which is initially provided with a surplus of material, as at 2| by referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, preferably adjacent the vertically-extending wall of the reduced portion of the hood. A washer 22 is provided interiorly of the hood, adjacent the laterally-extending portion 20, and is preferably of a compressible gasket material of the usual type and further is preferably cemented or glued in place therein. The diameter of the hood at the polygonal skirt portion is slightly larger than the diameter of the body portion for convenience of assembly and for accommodating variations in the barrel stock. Likewise, the diameter of the hood at the reduced top portion is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the plug over which it fits. Referring now more particularly to the tool for operating upon the closure construction, this invention contemplates the provision of an mverted, substantially cup-shaped member 23 having converging sides when viewed in cross section. A post 24 is journalled in a hole in the closed end of the cup-shaped member for relative longi tudinal movement therein. A split collar 25 is mounted on the upper end of the post 24 and is held against displacement in one direction by the flange 26 and in the other direction by the member 23. The collar 25 is provided with diametrically disposed forked extensions for pivotally supporting hand levers 21, the hand levers being provided with cam surfaces for engaging the upper end of the cup-shaped member 23. A movement of the levers 21 downwardly from a vertical position provides relative movement between the post 24 and the cup-shaped member 23, a compression spring 28 assisting the return of the members to an initial position upon release of pressure from the levers 21.

The lower end of the post 24 is provided with radially-extending forked members providing recesses 29, into which flanges 30 of the crimping jaws 3| slidably extend. The longitudinally-extending portions of the crimping jaws 3| are preferably of uniform thickness, the opposed outer and inner walls respectively thereof when viewed in cross section converging in the same direction and the outer walls engaging the opposed converging sides of the cup-shaped member 23. The lower ends of the crimping jaws 3| are provided with laterally-extending portions 32 having skirtengaging faces inclined with respect to the vertical to the degree of taper of the opposed converging walls of the socket H.

I have hereinbefore recited that the post has relative longtiudinal movement with the substantially cup-shaped member 23. Such movement provides the crimping jaws 3| with lateral movement in a single plane by reason of the engagement of the flanges 30 of the crimping jaws 3| in the space 29 between the forks of post 24, the converging sides of the substantially cupshaped member 23 acting upon the similarly converging sides of the crimping jaws 3|. The skirtengaging faces, the combined contours of which preferably form a polygon, move the skirt IQ of the hood into snug engagement with the side walls of the socket II.

A second set of crimping jaws 33 are provided interiorly of the jaws 3! and are positioned thereby, the outer walls of the crimping jaws converging in the same direction as the inner walls of the crimping jaws 3|, so that actuation of the crimping jaws 3i laterally will likewise produce a lateral movement of the crimping jaws 33. However, the crimping jaws 33 not only have a lateral movement radially of the tool but also a longi tudinal movement thereof which is provided by means of the tapered engaging surfaces, indicated at 34, of the post and the crimping jaws 33. Ihus a lateral movement of the jaw members 33 likewise produces a longitudinal movement thereof.

The longitudinal movement of the crimping jaws 33 urges the laterally-extending portion 23 of the hood toward the outer face of the socket I l and compresses the sealing gasket therebetween. At the same time, the lateral movement of the crimping jaws 33 moves the initial vertically-extending side walls and the reduced portion thereof into the groove ll', thus substantially using up the surplus material indicated at 2 I. It will be noted that the pointed wall engaging portion of the crimping jaw 33 engages at a point above the juncture of the wall with the horizontally extending portion 20 thereof to prevent fracturing of the material of the hood and to permit ease of working. The closure construction resulting from this operation is shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, these movements being augmented preferably by a movement of the skirt [9, preferably snugly against the converging side walls of the outwardly-extending body portion of the container.

The operating handles 21 provide the relative movement between the cup-shaped member 23 and the post 24 when the hand levers are depressed from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2. Depressing the handles 21 moves the cup-shaped member downwardly relatively to the container and produces a lateral movement of both sets of crimping jaws and also a further longitudinal movement of one set thereof. When the handles are moved in an upward direction, the cup-shaped member 23 is withdrawn and a spring 35 tends to spread the jaws back into the initial position shown in Fig. l.

Being so crimped, the material of the hood is prevented from springing at intermediate portions between the crimped portions so that a compression on the gasket 22 is maintained. The engagement of the hood on both the plug and the barrel portion is preferably forced and the hood can only be. removed by totally destroying the same, as by means of inserting a screw driver or other sharp pointed instrument at the cross score line indicated by the numeral 35 in Fig. 5, the score line intersecting pairs of diametrically-extending score marks for convenience in destroying.

While I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention as applied to one specific type of container closure and applying tool therefor, it is to be understood that the detailsof construction may be varied within wide limits wiihout departing from the spirit of the invention and that the invention is to be limited only within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a toolfor applying closures to containers having outwardly formed body portions adjacent holes in supporting walls thereof, the combination of a substantially cup-shaped member having converging longitudinally extending sides when viewed. in cross-section, a post journalled in said cup-shaped member, means providing relative longitudinal movement between said post and cup-shaped member, a set of crimping jaws slidable laterally and fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said post and actuated by said converging sides during the relative movement of said post and cup-shaped member, a second and cupshaped member, a set of crimping jaws slidable laterally and fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said post and actuated by said converging sides during the relative movement of said post and cup-shaped member, a second set of crimping jaws slidable laterally upon engagement by said first set of crimping jaws during the lateral movement thereof, and means on said post for directing a longitudinal movement of said second set of crimping jaws during the lateral movement thereof.

3. In a tool for applying closures to containers having outwardly formed body portions adjacent holes in supporting walls thereof, the combination of a substantially cup-shaped member having converging longitudinally extending sides when viewed in cross-section, a post journalled in said cupshaped member, means providing relative longitudinal movement between said post and cup-shaped member, a set of crimping jaws of polygonal contour slidable laterally and fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said post and actuated by said converging sides during the relative movement of said post and cupshaped member, a second set of crimping jaws of arcuate contour slidable laterally and actuatcd by the movement of said first set of crimping jaw, and means for sliding said second set of crimping jaws longitudinally upon movement of the jaws laterally.

4. In a tool for applying closures to containers having outwardly formed body portions adjacent holes in supporting walls thereof, the combination of a substantially cup-shaped member having converging longitudinally extending sides when viewed in cross-section, a post journalled in said cup-shaped member, means providing relative longitudinal movement between said post and cup-shaped member, a set of crimping jaws held in' a fixed lateral plane by said post although having slidable movement in that plane by the relative movement of said post and cup-shaped member, a second set of crimping jaws held in,

position by said first set of crimping jaws and actuated in a generally lateral direction thereby, and cam means on said post for moving said second set of crimping jaws in a longitudinal plane upon movement thereof in a lateral plane.

5. In a tool for applying closures to containers having outwardly formed body portions adjacent holes in supporting walls thereof, the combination of a substantially cup-shaped member having converging longitudinally extending sides when viewed in cross-section, a post journalled in said cup-shaped member, means providing relative longitudinal movement between said post and cup-shaped member, a set of crimping jaws slidable laterally in said post and having converging outer walls and converging inner walls respectively when viewed as a whole in crosssection, and a second set of crimping jaws slidable longitudinally and laterally and having converging outer walls when viewed together in cross-section, the converging outer walls of said first set of crimping jaws engaging the converging sides of said cup-shaped member to be moved in a lateral direction thereby during the relative movement of said post and said cup-shaped member, and the converging inner wall of said first set of crimping jaws engaging the converging outer walls of said second set of crimping jaws to transmit a lateral movement thereto during the lateral movement of said first set of crimping jaws, said post having a cam surface engaging said second set of crimping jaws during the lateral movement thereof to transmit a lon gitudinal movement thereto.

6. In a tool for applying closures to containers having outwardly formed body portions in supporting walls thereof adjacent holes for receiving plugs having a portion extending outwardly thereof, the combination of a substantially cupshaped member having converging longitudinally extending sides when viewed in cross-section, a post journalled in said cup-shaped member, means providing relative longitudinal movement between said post and said cup-shaped member, means within said cup-shaped member and held against displacement therefrom by said post for slidable movement laterally thereof actuated by said converging sides during the relative movement of said post and said cup-shaped member, a set of jaws extending radially inwardly from and movable laterally with said last mentioned means for engaging the closure at the extending portion of the plug and a second set of jaws belowsaid first set of jaws and extending radially inwardly from and movable laterally with said last mentioned means for engaging the closure at the outwardly formed body portion.

MORRIS SCHWARTZ. 

